GLAD Voices Disappointment with Outcome of U.S. v. Texas

GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders (GLAD) expressed disappointment with yesterday’s 4-4 decision by the United States Supreme Court in United States v. Texas. The tie means that two Obama administration programs to keep immigrant families together – DAPA and the expansion of DACA – will not be implemented during the current Administration.

“We are frustrated with this decision and its potential impact on families, including LGBTQ families,” said Janson Wu, Executive Director of GLAD. “We join the call to the Department of Justice to seek a rehearing when a ninth Justice joins the court. Immigration advocates are exploring all options to prevent further injury to families.”

GLAD joined a coalition of 326 immigration, civil rights, labor, and social service groups in filing an amicus brief in the case, urging the court to lift the injunction that blocked the executive actions on immigration that President Obama announced in November 2014.

The administration’s expansion of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program and the new Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents (DAPA) initiative were stopped by a federal district court in Texas. That court’s order subsequently was upheld, and the federal government appealed the case to the Supreme Court.